One of the great landmarks in St. Rene de Matane has re-opened. Le Metropole Hotel is alive and well and has brand new owners who really care about the area, their guests, and the fishing. Louis and Jane, the new owners are terrific people. Louis also is a guide and a great outdoorsman. It is a great place to stay and really great place to eat. Their restaurant is staffed with local cooks who really know their stuff. Their soups, home made pizza, and blue plate specials are the best in the entire area with a cost that everyone can afford. We are so pleased that this landmark has re-opened, and now is better than ever. And the pool behind the hotel is always filled with salmon and fisherman who enjoy the company of others. If in this area, don't miss stopping at the hotel, saying hello to Louis and Jane, and at the least, sampling their fine cuisine.

It was very hot on the whole Gaspe yesterday. I was fished the Petite Cascapedia yesterday. It was a little cooler but the day before was extremely hot. Got back to the Matane last night. Will be leaving for a week or two and coming back mid August and perhaps staying through the first week of September. I can't give you a good report about the Matane as I have not fished it in a few days.

It seems that the Matane is getting a lot of pressure this year due to the low runs on the Bonnie and some of the other Gaspesie rivers. Many more fisherman than last year. You can still find good water to fish solo if you know the river. And I think that many fisherman have left because when I returned last evening many pools were vacant of fisherman. And the fish keep coming.

The run on the Grande Cascapedia is pathetic this year. The big ticket camps are going fishless. In fact some of the guys were asking me how to get to the Matane as they heard our run was good. One guy asked me if there are pools that only could be fished spey style because he thought that would be the place he could fish without competition. I laughed and and said it there were good pools that only could be fished with spey, all of us would be spey experts.

I did see a lot of fish on the petite but only managed to land one of about 10 pounds.